Refrigerator cabinet



Jan. 19, 1937.

E. H. BODDY I 2,068,532

REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed June 6, 1935 Inventor; Edwin H. Boddg,

by X/d/z H Z/ ttovneg I Patented Jan. 19, 1937 TENT REFRIGERATQE @ABINET Application June it, 1935, Serial No. 25,254

(Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerator cabinet constructions, and more particularly to an improved and simplified arrangement for minimizing the leakage of heat from the exterior of the cabinet to the interiorthereof between the mar ginal portions of the walls of the cabinet, such as the walls about the edges of the door or door opening.

Refrigerator cabinets, and particularly those.

designed for household use, are frequently provided with inner and outer sheet metal walls made of sheet steel or the like and the inner walls are coated with vitreous enamel or some similar sub stance, thus forming a strong smooth wall structure which may be easily cleaned and having a pleasing appearance. Since the interior ofthe cabinet is ordinarily maintained at a'low temperature as compared to the temperature prevailing outside the cabinet, it is necessary to place a heat insulating barrier between the inner and outer heat-conductive walls of the cabinet. The inner and outer walls are ordinarily spaced apart and heat insulation placed therebetween. The edges of the walls about the edge of the door and the door opening should be joined in such manner as to provide a strong rugged construction which will at the same time conduct a minimum amount of heat between the walls.

It is an object of my invention to provide an arrangement for securing together. the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet in such manner as to provide a strong rugged and economical construction in which the transfer of heat between-the outer and inner walls is minimized.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement including a perforated portion of sheet metal presenting a smooth outer surface of pleasing appearance for closing the space between the marginal portions of the inner and outer walls of a cabinet of the type described while at the same time minimizing the flow of heat therebetween.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toand form ing a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a. perspective view,-partly in section, of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet of the household type embodying my invention, and Fig. 2.is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view along the line 22 in'Fig. 1 of the sealing ((Ul. Wil -9) gasket and supporting structure therefor pro-= vided on the door opening of the cabinet shown in Fig. l. I

Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Fig. l a portion of a refrigerator cabinet of the houshold type, the outer walls of which are formed by a rectangular sheet metal shell it made of steel or the like having a rectangular opening in the front wall thereof forming a door opening. An inwardly extending peripheral flange Ill extends about the sides of the opening formed in the front wall of the shell ill. The inner walls of a food storage compartment 02 within the cabinet are formed by a rectangular sheet metal inner liner it made of steel or the like. The inner liner i3 is provided with a rectangular opening in the front wall thereof which registers with the somewhat larger rectangular opening formed in the outer shell it. A portion of sheet metal M eretends between the inner liner it and outer shell it about the marginal portions of the door open ing formed by the registering openings therein. The sheet metal portion M is preferably formed as an integral peripheral portion of the inner liner l 3 in order to minimize the number of arts required and the number of joints in the cabinet structure. Heat insulation i5 is arranged between the outer shell ill and the inner liner E3, the walls of which are arranged in spaced relation.

In accordance with one aspect of my invention, the entire peripheral portion M of the inner liner I3 is provided with a series of closely spaced perforations 5 extending throughout the sheet metal portion M which surrounds the door opening. These perforations may be punched in the peripheral portion 14 before the inner liner I3 is bent into its rectangular shape. The perforations 16 ,are preferably arranged in a plurality of rows in staggered relation with respect to each other and are elongated in form. The elongated per- I forations l6 are also preferably arranged substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of heat from the exterior of the cabinet to the interior thereof, that is, from the outer shell l0 to the inner liner I3. Thus, any heat flowing throughthe peripheral portion I4 of the inner liner l3 from the exterior edge thereof to the interior edge must follow a tortuous and elongated path through metal of relatively narrow crosssection and, as a consequence, the thermal conductivity of the sheet metal portion I4 is minimized.

In accordance with another aspect of my invention, the perforations IS in the sheet metal portion H are filled with a mobile material which forms a heat insulating filler for the perforations upon hardening. This material may be paint, lacquer, vitreous enamel, or the like, or some thermal plastic material such as rubber. In the illustrative form of my invention, the perforations 16 are filled with vitreous enamel I1 which is also used to form an adherent coating l8 for the sheet metal portion l4 andtheinnerliner l3. Perforations l6 are thus sealed against the passage of moisture therethrough into the insulation and the interior of the cabinet is given a smooth, pleasing appearance. It is particularly important to prevent the passage of moisture into the insulation between the walls of the cabinet since the insulation is usually a dry fibrous material, the insulating properties of which are radically reduced upon beingsaturated by moisture. Condensation of moisture occurs principally about the edges of the door and door opening of a refrigerator cabinet. Hence, it is advanta eous that the arrangement which I have provided seals the marginal portions of the walls and is itself nonhygroscopic and impervious to moisture.

In accordance with another aspect of my in' vention, I have provided an arrangement for securing together the adjacent edges of the shell l0 and sheet metal portion H! of the inner liner l3 in order to prevent the entrance of moisture to the space therebetween. The peripheral portion l4 of the inner liner I3 is provided with a peripheral flange I9 extending thereabout and overlapping the flange Il formed on the shell I. A gasket made of rubber or other flexible heat insulating material extends about the doorway and is provided with a groove 2| extending about the same and receiving the edge of the flange ll. As best shown in Fig. 2 the gasket 2|] is provided with a resilient sealing portion 22 which is round in cross-section and the inner part of which lies in a groove 23 formed in the peripheral portion I4 of the inner liner l3 at the base of the flange l 9. The outer portion of the gasket 20 projects into the door opening and presses against the adjacent surface of the door when the latter is closed in order to prevent the passage of warm air into the cooling compartment 12. The flanges H and H! are secured together by a series of screws Ila passing through holes formed in the flanges II and 19, the inner ends of the screws Ila: being threaded in suitable tapped holes formed in a reinforcing strip l9a which extends entirely about the rear face of-the flange IS.

The door opening formed in the front of the cabinet is closed by a heat insulated door also embodying my invention. The outer wall of the door is formed by a rectangular sheet of metal 24 having a peripheral U-shaped flange 25 provided with a flat inwardly extending seating portion 26. The inner wall of the door is formed by a rectangular sheet of metal 21, the inner and outer walls being arranged in spaced relation and separated by heat insulation 28. The marginal portions of the inner and outer door walls 24 and 21 are secured together by a portion of sheet metal 21a which, in the illustrative form of my invention, is an integral peripheral portion of the inner wall 21 of the door. The peripheral portion 21a is provided with a flat peripheral flange 21b which is arranged parallel to the seating portion 26 of the U-shaped flange 25 on the outer wall 24 of the door.

A sealing gasket 29 made of flexible heat insulating material, such as soft rubber, is mounted between the adjacent portions of the flanges 26 and 21b. The gasket 29 is b-shaped in cross-section, the flat inwardly extending portion 30 thereof being arranged between the complementary faces of the flanges 25 and 21b. A series of machine screws 3| pass through the flange 21b and portion 30 of the gasket 29, the inner ends thereof being threaded in suitable tapped holes provided in a flange 26 of the outer wall 24 of the door. The hollow sealing or base portion of the gasket 29 extends about the edge of the inner wall 21 of the door and when the door is closed it is pressed firmly against the adjacent surface of the front wall of the cabinet. The entrance of warm air from the exterior of the cabinet into the cooling compartment 12 is thus prevented by the gaskets 22 and 29.

The peripheral portion 21a of the inner wall 21 of the door is provided with a series of closely spaced perforations 32 similar to the perforations l8 provided in the peripheral portion I4 of the inner liner l3. The perforations 32 are elongated in form and are preferably arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other in a pinrality of rows about the entire peripheral portion 21a of the inner wall 21 of the door. The perforations 32 are filled with a mobile material, which upon hardening forms a heat insulating filler therefor. In the illustrative form of my invention, the perforations 32 are filled with a hardened vitreous enamel 33 which also forms an adherent coating 34 for the inner wall 21 and 21 of the door. The flow of heat from the exterior of the cabinet to the interior thereof, through the peripheral portion of the wall 21 of the door is thus minimized. The heat insulated door thus formed is pivotally supported adjacent the doorway formed in the front wall of the cabinet by suitable hinges 35.

Although I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a refrigerator cabinet of the household type, I do not de-- sire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer walls arranged in spaced relation, heat insulation arranged between said walls, and a portion of sheet metal extending about the marginal portions of said walls and forming a closure between said walls, said portion of sheet metal having a series of closely spaced perforations formed therein to minimize the heat conductivity thereof, said portion of sheet metal being covered with a hardened coating material which forms a heat-insulating flller for said perforations.

2. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer walls arranged in spaced relation, heat insulation arranged between said walls, and means including a portion of sheet metal extending between the marginal portions of said walls for securing said walls together, said portion of sheet metal having a series of closely spaced perforations formed therein to minimize the heat conductivity thereof, said perforations being filled with a hardened filler material forming a heat insulating filler for said perforations.

3. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer sheet metal walls arranged in spaced relation, heat insulation arranged between said walls, and means including a portion of sheet metal extending between the marginal portions of said walls, and means including a portion of sheet portion of sheet metal having a series of closely spar '1 perforations formed therein to minimize the heat conductivity thereof, said portion of sheet metal being covered with hardened vitreous enamel which forms a heat insulating filler for said perforations.

4. A door for a refrigerator cabinet or the like comprising an outer sheet metal wall having an inwardly extending peripheral U-shaped flange provided with a flat inwardly presented seating portion, an inner sheet metal wall having an outwardly extending peripheral portion, said peripheral portion being provided. with a peripheral flange extending in proximity to said seating portion of said U-shaped'fiange, a sealing gasket of resilient material extending between said seating portion of said U-shaped flange and said peripheral flange of said inner wall, means for securing said inner and outer walls and said gasket together, and heat insulation arranged between said inner and outer walls, said peripheral portion of said inner wall being provided with a plurallty of rows of closely spaced elongated perforations arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other and substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of heat between said walls to minimize the flow of heat therethrough. said peripheral portion of said inner wall being covered with hardened coating material which forms a heat insulating filler for said perforations.

5. A refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer sheet metal shell and a sheet metal inner liner forming a compartment within said cabinet, said outer shell and said inner liner being arranged in spaced relation and provided with registering apertures in the walls thereof forming a door opening for said compartment, said inner linerbeing provided with an outwardly extending peripheral portion extending about said opening in said inner liner having a series of rows of elongated perforations formed therein to minimize the heat conductivity thereof, said elongated perforations being arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other and substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of heat between said outer shell and said inner liner, said peripheral portion of said inner liner being covered with'hardened coating material which forms a heat insulating filler for said perforations, a sealing gasket made of flexible material extending about said peripheral portion of said inner liner, and means for securing said outer shell said gasket and said inner liner together.

EDWIN H. BODDY.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

1 atent No. 2,068,532. January 19, 193'? EDWIN H. BODDY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line '75, claim 5, and page 3, first column, line 1. same claim, strike out the comma and words and means including a portion of sheet portion" and insert instead for securing said walls together, said portion; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of March, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,068,532. January 19, 1'.

EDWIN H. BODDY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 75, claim 5, and page 5, first column, line 1, same claim, strike out the comma and words and means including a portion of sheet portion" and insert instead for securing said walls together, said portion; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of March, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale Seal.) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

